Carrier for containers having undercut tops



y 1 1961 L. H. LEMKE Em 2,992,847

CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS HAVING UNDERCUT TOPS Filed May 7, 1956 INVENTORS LESTER H. LEMKE BY FELIX N. KULIGA 'ATTORNE Y United States Patent 2,992,847 CARRIER FOR CONTAINERS HAVING UNDERCUT TOPS Lester H. Lemke, 1545 S. 57th St, and Felix N. Kuliga, 2197 S. 81st St., both of West Allis 14, Wis. Filed May 7, 1956, Ser. No. 583,043 6 Claims. (Cl. 29431.2)

This invention relates to holders or carriers for vertically elongated containers and more particularly to holders or carriers for paper milk containers having undercut tops.

To an increasing extent milk and other liquids are being sold in suitably treated paper containers- While these containers may assume a large variety of forms they are now usualy provided in the form of a tube of square or rectangular cross section having an undercut top. One corner or side of the top of the container may be unfolded to provide a pouring spout normally closed by a foldable flap forming a part of the top. The sale of milk in containers of this type is particularly advantageous because no bottle deposit is required and the container may be destroyed when empty.

While such containers have a certain amount :of rigidity they are by no means easy to handle. Therefore, a need for a light weight, easily mountable handle or carrier has presented itself. This handle must be securely held in place when in use so that the container feels natural in the hand of the user.

In accordance with the invention claimed a new and improved carrier for vertically elongated containers having an undercut top is provided. This carrier may comprise a continuous member for slidably engaging the outer surface of the container and means pivotally mounted on the member and engageable with the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom.

It is therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new and improved carrier which may be safely and securely attached to a container.

Another object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier which is placed on paper containers to readily enable the contents of the container to be poured therefrom.

A further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier for vertically elongated substanial- 1y square or rectangular containers having undercut tops in which the carrier engages the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier for engaging the under side of the top of a milk container to suspendably mount the container therefrom and to insure this engagement when placed on the container.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier for engaging the under side of the top of a milk container to suspendably mount the container therefrom and which locks the carrier on the container until released therefrom by the operator.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier for milk cartons having undercut tops which may be mounted on the carton and locked in place and later unlocked and removed from the carton with one hand of an operator.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a new and improved carrier for milk cartons which is strong, durable, simple in construction and manufacture, readily and easily attached to and removed from a paper container, easy to manufacture and capable of being made from a variety of relatively inexpensive materials.

Patented July 18, 1961 ice Objects and advantages other than those above set forth will be apparent from the following description when read in connection with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carrier mounted on a vertically elongated container (shown in dotted lines) and embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partial right side view partly in section of the carrier shown in FIG. 1 and embodying a carrier locking means;

FIG. 3 is a partial cross sectional view through the carrier structure shown in FIG. 2 taken along the lines 3-3 and illustrating in detail the carrier locking means;

FIG. 4 is a partial cross sectional view through the carrier structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along the lines FIG. 5 is a partial end view of the carrier structure shown in FIG. 3 taken along the lines 5-5;

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of a modification of the carrier and container illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a partial perspective view of another modification of the carrier illustrated in FIG. I mounted on another type of container; and

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of a further modification of the carrier and container illustrated in FIG. 1.

Referring more particularly to the drawing by characters of reference, FIG. 1 illustrates in dotted lines a container 10 provided with a pitched top 11. Top 11 has slanting engaging roof members 12 and 13 extending downwardly from an apex or ridge 14. The ends of top 11 are folded in so as to form undercuts 15 when the container is closed. One end of top 11 is so cut and folded that is undercut may be reformed to form pitcher pouring spout 17.

The container holder or carrier 18 may be made from any suitable molded plastic material or from suitable metals such as aluminum or aluminum alloys. Carrier 18 comprises a continuous member or band 19 for slidably engaging the outer surfaces of container 10 when positioned over the container in an encompassing relationship therewith. Moulded to, riveted, welded or otherwise terminally attached to band 19 is a handle 20.

Handle 20 is provided with a bifurcated end defining a pair of spaced members 21 and 22. Pivotally mounted within a slot 23 formed between members 21 and 22 on a pin 24 is a container engaging means 25. Means 25 comprises a hooked end portion 26 and a thumb engaging portion 27 biased in container engaging direction by a suitable spring means 28 (shown in FIG. 2). Spring means 28 is arranged within slot 23 and a groove or slot formed in means 25 adjacent pin 24. As pressure is applied to the thumb engaging portion 28 the hooked end portion 26 is rotated counterclockwise about pin 24 against the biasing action of spring means 28.

In order to lock the hooked end portion 26 in container engaging position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a push button locking member 29 is provided. Locking member 29 is arranged within an aperture or bore 30 formed in handle 20. Bore 30 is formed to provide a square or rectangular cross section and is so positioned in handle 20 that locking member 29 arranged therein may be readily actuated by the first finger of the operators hand while the thumb of that hand is positioned on the thumb engaging portion 27. As shown in FIGS. 2, 4 and 5 bore 30 is formed in handle 20 at a position such that the push button locking member 29 engages the sides of means 25 when the hooked end portion 26 of means 25 is in engagement with the underside of top 11 of container 10.

Push button locking member 29 comprises a body having a square or rectangular cross sectional end 31 fitting into the closed end of bore 30 and a knurled circular end 32 extending out of bore 30 and having a radius less than one half of the width of bore 30. Ends 31 and 32 of locking member 29 are interconnected by a rod 33 formed integral therewith. As shown in FIG. 3, rod 33 is spaced a predetermined distance from the end of means 25 so that means 25 may be rotated about pin 24- without engaging with rod 33. Push button locking member 29 is biased axially into engagement with means 25 by a spring 34 shown in FIG. 3 and. may be moved axially along its longitudinal axis a predetermined distance. Means 29, however, cannot be rotated because end 31 thereof having a square or rectangular cross section fits into bore 30 which has a square or rectangular cross section slightly larger than the cross section of end 31.

In order to lock the hooked end portion 26 of means 25 in container engaging position a slot 35 is provided in the surface of means 25 adjacent the square or rectangular end 31 of push button locking member 29. When the hooked end portion 26 is biased into container engaging position spring 34 biases end 31 of push button locking member 29 into slot 35. Slot 35 has the same rectangular configuration as does end 31. Therefore, when end 31 is biased into slot 35 it holds means 25 and prevents it from rotating. Thus, container may be carried and used with the aid and convenience of the carrier without any danger of the thumb release portion 27 being accidentally pushed down and thereby releasing the hooked end portion 26 from the under side of top 11.

The carrier may be loaded or placed in container engaging position by merely sliding it over the top 11 of container 10 and then lowering it over the sides or surfaces of container 10 in encompassing relationship therewith. After passing over the end of ridge 14 of top 11 the hooked end portion 26 snaps into undercut and is locked in that position by the push button locking member 29. The carrier is now in position to suspendingly support container 10 from the hooked end portion 26. The carrier may be easily placed on container 10 or unhooked and removed therefrom with one hand thus making it a useful device around the kitchen.

If it is desired, the carrier may be manufactured and used without the push button locking member 29. In that case the operator relies on spring means 28 to hold the hooked end portion 26 in engagement with the under side of top 11 of container 10.

FIG. 6 illustrates carrier 18 mounted on a flat top container 37. Container 37 is provided with a ridged surface 38 extending around the periphery of a top 39. Ridged surface 38 forms with the sides of container 37 an undercut or groove 40. One side of top 39 'is provided with a folded flap 41 which may be reformed to form a pitcher pouring spout 42. The hooked end portion of the container engaging means is widened out at its end to form a horizontally extending bearing member 43 which fits in the undercut or groove 40 under the ridged surface 38 to suspendably mount container 37 therefrom when carrier 18 is held in midair by an operator holding handle 20.

FIG. 7 illustrates carrier 18 of FIG. I mounted on a container 44 which is provided with a pitched, semicircular or dome top 45. Top 45 forms with the sides of container 44 an undercut 46 which forms a means for the hooked end portion 26 of means 25 to engage the underside of top 45. Carrier 18 comprises a band 51 which extends partially around container 44 to firmly grip the four corners of the container to suspendably mount container 44 from the end of hooked portion 26 in the manner heretofore explained.

FIG. 8 illustrates a modified form of the carrier 18 wherein handle 20 is terminally mounted on a corner of band 19 and is provided with a bifurcated hooked end portion 47 which engages an undercut 48 formed at the junction of the sides and the ridged flat top of container 48. The carrier illustrated in FIG. 8 operates in the same manner as the one disclosed in FIG. 1 except that the bifurcated hooked end portion 47 engages container 49 at one corner thereof and extends in the undercut along two of its sides. The usual pouring spout 50 is provided in container 49 for discharging the contents thereof.

As is readily understood the locking means illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, inclusive, may be added to the carrier structures shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8 to lock the structures in the container engaging position. Further, the carrier structure shown in FIGS. 1, 6 and 8 may be provided, if so desired, with bands which extend only partially around the container in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

Although but a few embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

It is claimed and desired to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A carrier for vertically elongated containers having a top, said carrier comprising a continuous band formed from a plurality of plane surfaces for slidably engaging the outer sides of the container, a handle terminally attached to said band and provided with a bifurcated end defining a pair of spaced members, and means comprising a spring biased hooked end portion pivotally mounted on said handle at a point juxtapositioned to said surfaces between said members and engageable with the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom and a thumb engaging portion for rotating said means against the biasing action of said hooked end to disengage said means from the top of the container.

2. A carrier for vertically elongated containers having an undercut top, said carrier comprising a band for slidably engaging the outer sides of the container, a handle terminally attached to said band and provided with a bifurcated end defining a pair of spaced members, means comprising a spring biased hooked end portion pivotally mounted on said handle between said members and engageable with the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom, said end portion being provided with a slot for receiving a locking member, and a locking member comprising a spring biased push button mounted within said handle adjacent said spaced members, said push button being biased into said slot to lock said hooked portion in container engaging position.

3. A carrier for vertically elongated containers having an undercut top, said container comprising a band for slidably engaging the outer sides of the container, a handle terminally attached to said band and provided with a bifurcated end defining a pair of spaced members, means comprising a spring biased hooked end portion pivotally mounted on said handle between said members and engageable with the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom and a thumb engaging portion for rotating said means against the biasing action of said hooked end to disengage said means from the top of the container, said end portion being provided with a slot for receiving a locking member comprising a spring biased push button mounted within said handle adjacent said spaced members, said push button being biased into said slot to lock said hooked end portion of container engaging position and when actuated against its biasing means releasing said hooked end portion for rotation thereof.

4. A carrier for vertically elongated substantially rectangular containers having an undercut top, said container comprising a continuous band for slidably engaging the outer sides of the container, a handle terminally attached to said band and provided with a bifurcated end defining a pair of spaced members, means comprising a spring biased bifurcated hooked end portion pivotally mounted on said handle between said members and engageable with the under side of two sides of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom and a thumb engaging portion for rotating said means against the biasing action of said hooked end to disengage said means from the top of the container, said end portion being provided with a slot for receiving a locking member comprising a spring biased push button mounted within said handle adjacent said spaced members, said push button being biased into said slot to lock said hooked portion in container engaging position and when actuated against its biasing means releasing said hooked portion for rotation thereof.

5. A detachable handle for containers of the type having an elongated body, said body terminating at its upper end in a portion providing a laterally recessed opening in the side of the body, said handle comprising a band which provides an opening of the same configuration and slightly larger than the cross-section of the elongated body, a hand grip secured to the band at its upper end and extending generally downward therefrom when said band is placed on the body, a generally inwardly curved hook means pivotally mounted on a generally horizontal axis adjacent the upper end of said hand grip to thereby enable the inwardly extending end of the hook means to be pivoted into the recess for securing the handle to the body-and to be pivoted outwardly of said recess to allow for the removal of the handle from said body.

6. A carrier for vertically elongated containers having a top, said carrier comprising a continuous band formed from a plurality of plane surfaces for slidably engaging the outer sides of the container, a handle terminally attached to said band, and means comprising a spring biased hooked end portion pivotally mounted on said handle juxtapositioned to where said handle is attached to said band and engageable with the under side of the top of the container for suspendably mounting the container therefrom and a thumb engaging portion for rotating said means against the biasing action of said hooked end to disengage said means from the top of the container.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,446,474 Mahnken Feb. 27, 1923 2,406,696 Leslie Aug. 27, 1946 2,610,081 Bushman Sept. 9, 1952 2,635,000 Baker Apr. 14, 1953 2,675,264 Vander Lugt Apr. 13, 1954 2,693,385 Cavalli Nov. 2, 1954 2,704,222 Tomarin Mar. 15, 1955 2,757,034 Puhl July 31, 1956 2,782,915 Fahringer Feb. 26, 1957 2,810,503 Krueger Oct. 22, 1957 2,871,015 Nesslein et a1. Ian. 27, 1959 

